A serviceman with the call sign «Kokos» from Kherson region suffered a severe leg injury — his foot does not work, there is no sensation. Despite this, he continues to serve in the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade «Velykyi Luh».
He shared his story in an ICTV report.
Before the war «Kokos» worked in the police, then went to work in Moscow. He says:
«I went for seasonal work for two years and worked there: we painted road markings, I painted all of Moscow, and Rublyovka, and everything. If I had known then, I would have changed everything for them there».
When leaving the occupied area, a photo on his phone from Red Square saved him.
«At the checkpoint they might not have let me through; they just took the phone in their hands, saw me on the lock screen at Red Square, asked: “So you’re one of us?” — I said, well of course. And when we passed the last checkpoint, I thought, I should remove the lock screen, because even our own might take me for one of them», – he says jokingly “Kokos”.
In the brigade, «Kokos» became a drone operator: at first he worked with a «Mavic», later — with a heavy hexacopter «Vampire». He took part in battles near Robotyne, where he received a severe leg wound.
«There was an opportunity to be discharged, but I decided to continue serving», – he said.
His brother with the call sign «Chip» also serves in the 65th brigade and is engaged in making drones. More than 10,000 drones have passed through his hands.
«Kokos» has about eight awards, two of them — «For Courage». He doesn’t remember exactly how many there are, because he is modest about them.